mortified him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mortified him" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation where someone is extremely embarrassed or ashamed, often due to something that has happened or been said. Example: "When he realized he had forgotten his speech in front of the entire audience, it mortified him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The condition of the city mortified him.

The New York Times - Travel

"But afterwards he found it very difficult to work, and that mortified him.

The New York Times

The story of his life mortified him and sent him scurrying for excuses.

The Guardian

"Her VMA performance absolutely mortified him and he couldn't be more embarrassed.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"The courses of his youth promised it not," the Archbishop of Canterbury explains in the first scene: **{:.break one} ** The breath no sooner left his father's body But that his wildness, mortified in him, Seemed to die too.... Never was such a sudden scholar made; Never came reformation in a flood With such a heady currance, scouring faults.

The New Yorker

At Lord's, the cameras panned constantly to the face of the Australian coach as he took in the unfolding disaster from the balcony, his bald pate and lined, mortified mouth giving him the look of an out-manouevred Renaissance consigliere surveying the tableau of his strategy's destruction from a window set high on a villa in flames.

The Guardian - Sport

I was mortified, quickly gave him a 10 and disappeared.

BBC

He was said to be mortified when Mr Obama informed him that Chicago television crews accompanying him had been "shaken down" for hefty bribes at Nairobi airport.

The Economist

David became mortified when Behar told him her producers had dug up an old video of him doing stand-up and begged her not to play it, but of course she did and we were treated to a very young Larry David with a full head of dark hair cracking jokes.

Huffington Post

The waiter was mortified, but Barzani dismissed him gently.

The New Yorker

He was mortified when we called him back to complete the order.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mortified him" to describe a situation where someone feels intense shame or embarrassment due to a specific event or realization. Ensure the context clearly indicates the cause of the mortification.

Common error

Avoid using "mortified him" to describe situations of mere inconvenience or slight embarrassment. The word implies a strong sense of shame or humiliation, so ensure the context warrants such a strong emotion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mortified him" functions as a verb phrase, where "mortified" acts as a transitive verb describing the action of causing someone to feel extreme embarrassment or shame. As evidenced in the provided Ludwig examples, it commonly follows a subject and precedes the object of the mortification.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mortified him" effectively conveys a deep sense of embarrassment or shame experienced by an individual. Ludwig's analysis confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and predominantly found in news and media contexts. It's essential to use this phrase when the situation genuinely warrants a strong emotional response. While alternatives like "humiliated him" or "embarrassed him greatly" exist, "mortified him" specifically emphasizes the intensity of the shame. Remember to avoid using it in situations where only mild discomfort is felt. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is standard usage in English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

filled him with mortification

Changes the structure to emphasize the feeling of mortification.

humiliated him

Focuses more on the act of causing shame, rather than the feeling itself.

embarrassed him greatly

Emphasizes the degree of embarrassment experienced.

chagrined him

Implies a feeling of disappointment or failure alongside embarrassment.

ashamed him

Highlights the feeling of guilt or wrongdoing.

caused him great shame

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the shame that was inflicted.

made him feel deeply humiliated

Elaborates on the feeling of humiliation.

put him to shame

Emphasizes the feeling of being overshadowed or outdone.

dismayed him

Highlights a feeling of disappointment and discouragement.

appalled him

Focuses on causing a feeling of horror or disgust.

FAQs

What does "mortified him" mean?

The phrase "mortified him" describes a situation where someone feels extremely embarrassed, ashamed, or humiliated. It suggests a deep sense of discomfort and chagrin.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "mortified him"?

Use "mortified him" when describing a situation where someone experiences a significant level of embarrassment or shame, often due to a public mistake, a personal failing, or an exposed secret.

What are some alternatives to saying "mortified him"?

You can use alternatives like "humiliated him", "embarrassed him greatly", or "caused him great shame" to express similar feelings with slightly different nuances.

Is "mortified him" the same as "embarrassed him"?

While both describe feelings of discomfort, "mortified him" suggests a stronger, more profound sense of shame and humiliation than "embarrassed him". Embarrassment can be mild, whereas mortification implies a deeper level of chagrin.